FOREST HILL ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
MARCH 1, 2010


Board members present: Mel Bachmeier, Katie Balestreri, Kathe Farrell, Sally Kipper, Warren Krauss, Diane Wara.

Others in Attendance: Steve Halpern, Jack Buckley, Harold Wright, Walt Farrell, Peter Gochis, John Balestreri, John Palmer.

Announcement: S.A.F.E. will be at the Clubhouse Monday, March 8, from 7-8 PM.

Minutes: of February 1, 2010 were MSP with corrections to the Treasurer's report portion.

Treasurer's report: Sally reported on highlights of the finances (Balance Sheet, Comments Sheet, and Receipts and Expenditures Report are on file in the Office).

1. Monthly reports have been redone to reflect financial cleanup efforts.
    - Clubhouse income has been corrected to approximately $31,000 YTD.
    - Payroll is now reported as gross, with withholding a negative number except in
      months when payroll taxes are paid.
    - Interest income reflects that from financial institutions and late assessments.

2. $58,000 remains outstanding of the original $284,000 billed. Follow-up letters will go out this month.

3. Assessment revenues include payment of one longtime lien - 9 liens remain.

4. The Quick Books cleanup is essentially complete with some brief consultations to come. Bookkeeper has officially started work.

5. 17 non-members have paid. Non-member households total 53, compared to 652 member households.

6. One non-member household joined FHA in February. The Board of Directors agreed that an office manager not be hired until a formal agreement regarding time and duties is reached with the executive assistant. Sally was commended for all her efforts in straightening out the financial picture this past year. It was recommended that, in the future, the bookkeeper be able to work without the Treasurer's direct assistance.

Certification of Assessment Increase: The Board discussed the oversight regarding late certification of the assessment increase. Warren Krauss informed the Board that a slight delay in timely recording certification of notice of an assessment increase is a procedural matter and not one of substance in view of the full actual notice given to the owners by the Board. The Board of Directors has the inherent power to ratify such a slightly delayed certification. Then, on motion duly seconded, the Board ratified and validated the delayed certification."

Candidates for Board of Directors: John Palmer, Election Inspector, announced that he had received seven candidate statements by the February 26 deadline; and, upon verifying that the candidates are members in good standing of FHA, he asked for a vote to certify the candidates. Sally Kipper moved, Mel Bachmeier seconded, and the motion carried. There followed discussion about the possibility of simplifying the bylaws procedure requirements, and Diane asked Harold Wright, who agreed, to assist her in studying the issue. Candidates' Night is scheduled for March 22, 7 PM. The election will take place on April 5 at the Annual Meeting.

WTPCC Report: Walt Farrell reported on presentations by Steve Kav, the Mayor's chief of staff, and John Rizzo of San Francisco City College.

FHGC Report: Katie Balestreri reported for Sima Talai that the Garden Club purchases and serves refreshments for the Annual FHA meeting on April 5, and the FHA traditionally reimburses the Garden Club. The planting area in front and alongside the side door is traditionally Garden Club responsibility. Diane Wara mentioned that Valley Crest has been charged with maintaining the planting area. There will be a Landscape meeting on Thursday, and this area will be on the agenda.

Advisory Committee Reports
Activities:
Katie and John Balestreri are sponsoring a free presentation of the group, Whole Noyse, for the neighborhood on April 15. There will be an email blast sent out and a notice on the kiosk.

The Lunar New Year celebration, held February 28, was a very successful event, complete with a musical presentation, dim sum, roast pig, and lion dancers. Thanks to Yen Bachmeier, Bob Wong, and their group of helpers for a memorable party that attracted many community members.

Architectural Review: Steve Halpern presented the following:

     - 44 Mendoza: Owners have filed an appeal to the Planning Commission
       regarding the tall fence. No results of the scheduled site visit known as yet.
     - 30 Santa Rita: New windows require a permit, and front windows lack
       additional Planning Dept. approval. Steve reported that Dan is writing a letter
       to the owner, and a newsletter article is in the works to inform homeowners of
       regulations.
     - 56 Sotelo: An email has sent to owners suggesting some inexpensive steps
       to approve appearance from the street.

Clubhouse:
Kathe mentioned the cobwebs around the outside of the building, specifically by the front entrance, and asked if there is an outside cleaning service. Apparently, the gutter cleaning service did not wash down the outside walls (unclear if this is part of the service).

Warren reported that the Maybeck architecture book in which the Clubhouse is pictured (thanks to Yen Bachmeier for monitoring the photographer's visit) is scheduled to be published within six months.

Infrastructure: Diane announced that Bill Gray and others had requested assistance with tree root trimming to coincide with pavement repair. Valley Crest trimmed the roots, and repairs have been made. The City has yet to repair the involved curbs.

Landscape: Diane identified three issues:

1) Valley Crest has completed tagging of smaller parking strip trees. Smaller trees were not included in the original 700 tagged.

2) The database of Tagged Trees and the database of Do Not Prune Trees have been consolidated, decreasing the possibility of pruning mistakes.

3) The covering of parking strips with cement, concrete, or bricks was considered. After discussion, the following policy statement was proposed:

It is the policy of the Forest Hill Association to discourage the use of cement, concrete, or bricks in parking strips and median zones. If a homeowner insists upon using these materials in other than City permitted pass-through zones, the owner must first obtain a permit from the City; Further, it is RESOLVED by vote of the Forest Hill Association Board of Directors that the City be reminded and requested to strictly enforce this permit policy.

Motion to adopt said Policy and Resolution was made by Mel Bachmeier, seconded by Kathe Farrell, and passed by the Board of Directors.

Legal: Warren announced that a Directors' meeting with the Insurance Broker is scheduled for 7 PM March 9.

General Community Input

Jack Buckley reported on discussions he has had with Friends of the Urban Forest. The group has offered to plant trees in Forest Hill and maintain them for 18 months for $75 per tree. Diane agreed to contact Greg Harrell-Edge, FUF Community Outreach Coordinator.

P.G.E. Smart Meters have been installed in Forest Hill Extension, so it is a matter of time before they appear in Forest Hill. Bills have increased markedly in those homes where the Smart Meters have been installed, and the P.G.E. maintains that the old meters have corroded over time and are inaccurate. Warren has received notice of imminent installation and will explore the legal possibility of declining the replacement.

Adjournment 8:57 PM


Respectfully submitted,

Kathe Farrell, Secretary